Sustainability, the future of flight and the latest in innovation and products will be the key focus of the 2023 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) when manufacturers, suppliers, operators, government leaders and customers gather May 23-25 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Organizers expect more than 10,500 attendees from 111 countries, 255 exhibitors and 55 co-exhibitors along with about 50 aircraft on display at the show, held at the Palexpo convention center and static display at the Geneva International Airport. 

The event will showcase aircraft and business aviation products and feature educational sessions with industry leaders. Ten business aviation manufacturers and other related businesses plan to hold press conferences on media day on May 22 ahead of the show opening. As a teaser, Textron Aviation, for example, has been running ads saying, “Prepare to Transcend the Extraordinary,” and “The future of efficiency and productivity is fast approaching. Transcend the Extraordinary on May 22.” The company did not comment further.

In preparation for EBACE, here are five things you should know: 

Sustainability 

Industry-wide efforts to reduce carbon emissions will take center stage during EBACE’s two-day Sustainability Summit. Sessions will include panelists from a variety of businesses with discussions evolving around electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOL), sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon offset practices.

While advancements to fight climate change are being made at the organizational level, EBACE itself has made a pledge to make its event a “more sustainable show.” EBACE 2023’s Exhibitor Sustainability Pledge will include managing the show’s waste, water and energy usage in an effort to reduce the event’s total environmental impact. Energy usage at the convention center and hotels will be tracked and the carbon emissions will be offset, including travel to and from the show, organizers say. Lighting will be reduced and HVAC systems will be off while exhibitors set up and move out. Nearly 80% of the waste generated at the center will be sorted on site, with 48% to be recycled. At least 75% of the carpets used for the show will also be recycled, and food will be sourced locally. 

“The business aviation community is committed to sustainability and carbon reduction in everything we do, from the airport to the show floor and beyond,” says Chris Strong, National Business Aviation Association senior vice president of events. 

It will be one of the most carbon-neutral of the shows to date, Strong says. “We are committed to sustainability on the ground and in the air.” 

The show will open with keynote speakers Toto Wolff, team principal, CEO and co-owner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, and Susie Wolff, F1 executive. Following a career in racing, Tom Wolff founded one of the earliest tech-focused venture capital firms in Europe, with sustainability factoring into the company’s decisions, EBACE organizers note. In 2022, the team became the first global sports team to invest in SAF, it says. The team has reduced its direct carbon emissions by 50% since 2018. Susie Wolff is a former race car driver and was recently appointed to the role of managing director of the F1 Academy.

The Innovation Pavilion

The future of business aviation will be on display at the Innovation Pavilion—EBACE’s center for the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), where companies, such as Lilium, Honeywell, Voltaero SAS and ARC Aerosystems are scheduled to share their latest technologies. VoltAero’s Cassio 330 hybrid-electric demonstrator will make its debut.

Solar Stratos, an aircraft that aims to fly to the edge of space on solar power, will also be among the sustainability-focused aircraft at the show. A mockup of the unpressurized, two-seat Mission Solar Stratos prototype will be on display on the show floor.

New Exhibitor Pavilion

More than a dozen companies new to EBACE are exhibiting at the First Time Exhibitor Pavilion on the Palexpo show floor. The exhibitors include companies such as IFE Products, Flight Research, Flowings, Bureau Veritas, TraviPay and others. 

Aircraft Static Display

According to organizers, nearly 50 aircraft will be on display—including business jets, turboprop and piston engine aircraft. Airbus Corporate Jets, Avionmar, BBS Aviation, Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier, Cirrus Aircraft, Daher, Dassault, Eclipse Aerospace, Embraer, Gogo Business Aviation, Gulfstream Aerospace, Honda Aircraft, Jet HQ, Piaggio Aerospace, Pilatus Aircraft, Piper Aircraft and others will showcase their aircraft on static display.  

Networking And Career Development

Amid talent shortages across business aviation, EBACE is hosting networking opportunities for first-time job seekers. 

EBACE 2023 will include a Career Day, open to high school, technical school and university students and educators across Europe, as a way for newcomers to explore potential work in the business aviation sector. Attendees will hear from keynote speaker Mack Rutherford, who broke the world record for youngest person to fly solo around the world at age 17, on how to break into the industry.